Ashwini Bhide says coordinated development around metro stations can increase ridership and improve mobility

Planned development around metro stations can encourage more people to use public transport improve daily commuting and support longterm economic growth Ashwini Bhide Managing Director of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation and Municipal Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said on SaturdaySpeaking at the 19th Urban Mobility India Conference in Bhubaneswar Bhide highlighted the importance of coordinating transport infrastructure with urban development to improve mobility and ensure sustainable growth in citiesShe was chairing a session on land use and transport beyond city limits where discussions focused on the need to align urban expansion with public transport networks and improve planning across administrative boundariesMaharashtra promotes development around metro stationsBhide outlined Maharashtrarsquos efforts to promote transitoriented development a planning approach that encourages housing commercial establishments and essential services near public transport facilitiesShe said the policy had been introduced in Nagpur and Pune In Mumbai a policy encouraging higherdensity development within approximately 500 metres of underground metro stations has also been implementedThe approach aims to create areas where residents can access workplaces shops and essential facilities more easily through public transport By bringing different activities closer to metro stations the policy seeks to reduce dependence on private vehicles and make public transport a more convenient option for daily travelThe policy also links development permissions with funding for public infrastructure Additional premiums collected for allowing higher construction areas are directed towards local amenities and transport infrastructure helping support the development of areas around metro stationsIntegrated planning can improve metro ridershipBhide said planned development around metro stations could increase ridership by making stations more accessible and improving the convenience of daily travelConcentrating residential and commercial activity near public transport corridors can help commuters reach workplaces and essential services without relying as heavily on private vehicles Such development can also support better use of existing transport infrastructure and reduce the need for long journeys across the cityFor Mumbai where commuting demand remains closely linked to the distribution of housing jobs and commercial activity coordinating land use with metro expansion could play an important role in improving urban mobilityHowever the effectiveness of such policies depends on the availability of supporting infrastructure including roads pedestrian access and local transport connections Coordinated planning is therefore necessary to ensure that higherdensity development does not place additional pressure on existing civic facilitiesCoordination needed beyond city limitsBhide also stressed the importance of coordination among government departments and local authorities to improve transport planning and manage development in areas beyond city limitsAs urban areas expand commuting patterns increasingly extend beyond municipal boundaries Transport networks and landuse policies therefore need to account for travel between cities and their surrounding regions rather than focusing only on development within individual administrative areasShe pointed to experiences from cities such as London and Singapore along with recommendations from urban planning experts as potential inputs for shaping future mobility policies